Preliminary research - Representation

• What is being represented?

In essence I believe that my film represents a culture clash. My character is an Irishman who is an Irish republican fanatic and thus he wants to be part of the IRA, or to be associated with them. As he is mentally unstable he has not taken on board all of the IRA’s ideologies and has instead adopted the ‘modern’ idea of terrorism by carrying out a suicide bombing.
This goes against his religion which is why his Catholicism is represented in a very overt manner.

• How is it represented?
  His motives are clear from the dialogue that he wants to be part of the IRA; although this is not revealed until the end of the suicide note, the intention being that the audience thinks that he wants to kill himself, without realising that he wishes to kill hundreds of others in the process.
   Costume and the interior set were designed to show his patriotism as he wears a ‘cork republica’ hoodie and has a massive irish flag hung upon his bedroom wall.
   His religion is shown through the use of the rosary beads at the start of the film and he is reciting the Our Father (in Gaelic) before he dies.
   The ticking noise in the background of the film ought to provide the audience with an indication that his backpack contains a bomb.
  
  
• What is foregrounded and what is back-grounded? Are there any notable absences?
  In the foreground is the character’s insanity, his desire to be part of the IRA and his method of doing so (ie suicide bombing).
  In the background is his conflict within himself as he is commiting suicide which goes against his religion.
  
  
• Whose representation is it? Whose interests does it reflect? How do you know?
  It’s a modern interpretation of the thought processes of a mentally unstable man who hero-worships the IRA and wants to commit an act of terrorism. In the past terrorism did not necessarily mean suicide bombing however that has become the accepted normality in the post 9/11 society in which we live.
  
  
• At whom is this representation targeted? How do you know?
  A representation cannot be targeted at anyone however the film is targeted towards a late teenage to twenty-something year old audience as it is intended to be a thriller. In addition the main character is a youth and therefore the young would be more likely to identify with him however I feel it may also appeal to an older generation, probably with an androcentric bias, who would have been around in the late 70s/ early eighties when the IRA were a serious terrorist threat.
  
  
• How do people make sense of it? According to what codes?
  The whole film is based on the monologue; therefore if one does not understand what is being said, then I feel they may miss the point of the film entirely.
  
  
• A reflexive consideration - Why is the concept of representation problematic?
  Without the explanation as to what the film is about/ some piror knowledge of the IRA the concept might pass some people by. Some may think that I have made an error and that the film is set in the 1980s and therefore there are issues with modern amenities and the like.
  Alternatively, one may think without hearing the explanation about the film, that it is an inaccurate portrayal of terrorism as he wants to be part of the IRA yet he is doing a suicide bombing, yet the IRA gave the police notice before they bombed places and never did suicide bombings.
  These are just a few suggestions as to how the piece could be misinterpreted.